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Media Advisory: New Health Centre for Older, Homeless Men Will Improve Difficult Lives and Help Ease Burden on Toronto Emergency Rooms

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 19, 2012) -

NOTE TO EDITORS: INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE;

NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: PHOTO OP AVAILABLE

The lives of older homeless and marginally housed men will get a little easier and the load on Toronto hospital emergency rooms a little lighter with the opening of The Rotary Health and Wellness Centre at The Good Neighbours' Club, a day club for older homeless and marginally housed men. The opening ceremony will be presided over by The Honourable David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, at 4pm on Tuesday, June 19, attended by many of the wellness centre's future clients and health care providers. A ceremonial Honour Guard from The Robert Land Academy will usher in His Honour. The Rotary Club of Toronto has made available a grant of $100,000 to create the clinic to meet the needs of those served by The Good Neighbours' Club. The Honourable David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, is the Patron of The Good Neighbours' Club.

WHAT:

Ceremonial opening of The Rotary Health and Wellness Centre at The Good Neighbours' Club

Presentation of the future development plans of The Good Neighbours' Club as it evolves to offer services desperately needed by its members, including end-of-life care.

WHO:

The Honourable David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

Members of The Good Neighbours' Club (homeless and marginally housed senior men)

Ms. Adrienne McLennan, Chair of the Board of Directors

Dr. Bruno Scorsone, Executive Director of The Good Neighbours' Club

Mr. Sandy Boucher, President of The Rotary Club of Toronto

Mr. Bill Dewson of William Dewson and Associates

An Honour Guard for His Honour comprised of students from The Robert Land Academy in ceremonial dress

WHEN:

His Honour will arrive at 4:00pm on Tuesday, June 19th for 1/2 hour ceremony

4:30A brief presentation of future development plans by Mr. Bill Dewson of William Dewson and Associates

4:45 start of brief AGM

WHERE:

Second floor of The Good Neighbours' Club at 170 Jarvis Street in Toronto, which is on the west side of Jarvis Street at Shuter Street

The Good Neighbours' Club is a Toronto charity dedicated to the homeless or marginally-housed man who is 50+ and trying to find his way back to a normal life. Founded in 1933 and located at Jarvis and Shuter, The Good Neighbours' Club members have faced the despair of downsizing or have lost everything due to illness, addiction, poor choices or bad luck. They receive new, donated clothes and have access to mail services, showers, laundry facilities, hot meals, phones, televisions, games, computers, health care via The Rotary Health and Wellness Centre, a safe place to lock up valuables…and compassion. The club also provides final arrangements for members whose bodies would otherwise go unclaimed. Funded largely by the United Way of Greater Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Health and the City of Toronto, The Good Neighbours' Club is assisted by the Daily Bread Food Bank, Second Harvest, Whole Foods Market and Torontonians who realize that these men could be their fathers, their brothers, their sons or even themselves. For more information about The Good Neighbours' Club please visit www.goodneighboursclub.org.

This event will be of special interest to those reporting on issues of health, poverty, social services, and cooperation among government, non-profits, and social service agencies.